* preview reading material by looking at the book’s cover and illustrations and by reading titles and headings
* set a purpose for reading by looking at the illustrations, activating prior knowledge, and predicting the outcome of the selection.
* identify who is telling the story at various points in a text.
* use knowledge from their own experience to make sense of and talk about a text.
* identify and describe characters, settings, and important events in a story using details.
* use illustrations and details to describe characters, settings, and important events in a story.
* demonstrate comprehension by retelling stories and events orally or in writing, using beginning, middle, and end structure, and demonstrating comprehension of the central message or lesson.
*identify the main idea or theme of a short fiction selection * identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
* read a wide variety of self-selected and teacher-selected stories and poems aloud.
* use expression and intonation to convey meaning when reading aloud (prosody).
* reread as necessary to confirm and self-correct word recognition and understanding.
*practice reading and rereading familiar stories, poems, and passages at their independent reading level to develop fluency, accuracy, and meaningful expression.